[Soon after all witches have been defeated, the fire begins to fade. The storms become more erratic and a metal keening cuts through them. It still takes some hours for it to die down, even if it's clear the event is on its way out.

Aelia sits on part of the broken wall of the Inner City, snake body draped along the edge, watching the sky. Soon the metal whine becomes a scream, a spear cutting through the air, impaling part of her body with a jolt. Aelia looks almost sad at it, but not pained or surprised, as she twists, reaching out a hand to touch it.]

Ah... confused again, are you?

[More weapons join it; as the sky clears, the dragon twitches with the force of each impact. Soon that part of her body is covered with them, but there's surprisingly little blood. Aelia pets the first lance a little, almost crooning to it.]

You're safe now. Rest a little while.


((OOC: Just to have some kind of concluding bit for the event! ♥ Please keep backtagging/logging for ALL OF THE TIMES. <3

Aelia will respond a little to notes, if anyone wants to talk to a coherent Animus for a bit. Next time will be back to mixed, obnoxious ramblings. :x

And as an extra note: Whenever Yuma, Kyoko, and Mami revive, they'll each have a personalized card from Aelia somewhere on their person, thanking them for being such good sports. Yuma's will have a little sketchy drawing of a kitten on it, Kyoko's will have a unicorn eating an apple, Mami's will have a teacup with a musket motif. Each also has a fresh orchid included with the note, if any are inclined to still use it.

Rei and Nat also each get a note thanking them for their assistance, to be found in their belongings a day or two after. Rei's includes a tiny attached bottle, with a bit of independently moving flame inside, and the comment, "To my Archer, a kindred spirit."

Nat gets a heavy book, full of diagrams and charts, detailing the structure and form of Ekpyrosis, as well as some information that doesn't seem connected to anything. It has the note, "To my Summoner, for your continued study. Please invite me again, sometime."))

[At the same moment, everyone's PCD switches on and begins to play- though instead of the usual mixture of ghostly voices, a woman's face appears. She nods at the screen, smiling faintly- blond hair separated into two braids, an orchid ever-tucked behind one ear. The area around her is hazy, flickering.]

Everyone. As has been tradition, it's time for us- you name us 'Animus'- to announce the start of a new event. And as today's organizer, I wanted to invite you all personally to participate, as this will be the last time our city shall suffer.

My name is Aelia, and the event is called 'Ekpyrosis.'

[Behind her- through the holes in the wall, in the air for anyone who cares to notice- the sky begins to turn a dark, unhappy orange. The temperature starts to rise.]

'The final fire that expires the mandate of the world'... for those who would ask. You could call it bad fortune that it was pulled here along with you- worse, that I discovered its nature, and sought to restore it. For those of you who were looking for a way out- this might not've been what you had in mind, but please accept my substitution. But to be fair-

I could not have done so alone. My co-sponsors--

[The view drops; two ruined bodies lie before her. One is barely recognizable as John Mandrake, limbs twisted and blackened by flame, broken spears still pinning him to the floor. The other is Sailor Mars- less singed, but with the dozens of swords and lances piercing her body, rendering it to pieces- no more simply identified.]

--the Summoner, the Archer, were invaluable. I couldn't have named Ekpyrosis on my own. But I have one more request-

[The view pans up, past a serpentine body carved out of dark rock, past human legs merging into it, to see all of Aelia herself; a nude woman seated on a coil of a stone dragon, her own body. From her ear, she pulls the orchid, holds it out.]

Now, my magicians: please mature.

[At three points in the city, despair rises. A girl dies to birth a witch; Walpurgisnacht to match the Ekpyrosis day.

Aelia just nods again, as the feed dies.]




((OOC: Witch information and plotting post here.

Additionally, Ekpyrosis now covers the city, decorating the sky with constantly shifting sigils. As of this entry, the sky bursts, and the fire-flood starts. Like a thunderstorm overhead- just replace "rain" with "fire". :x Staying in the open without protection is quickly deadly.

Aelia will also be around if anyone wants to find her; she won't respond to this post, but offlines are welcome. Warning: she's stronger than Ekpyrosis.))

we thought there was a saying about this

but we've forgotten it

but enjoy the ride anyway
in a _new pair of ^shoes or five

wait isn't that missing a foot

remove the haze from your eyes
HOC EST SEPULCHRUM INTUS CADAVER NON HABENS

look closer

i t ' s a l r e a d y h a p p e n e d
you're too late

look closer

HOC EST CADAVER SEPULCHRUM EXTRA NON HABENS

_no ^appreciation
what can make you

what can bring you here

who do you think you are
if you can't remember that

it's too dry you should've listened
we don't like it

we warned you

the weather forecast was wrong

someone tell me, whose is it?